By Mohammed Shafeeq,IANS,
Hyderabad : There seems to be no end to controversies surrounding Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Now the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has banned his entry into Gymkhana Cricket Grounds here.
HCA joint secretary D.S. Chalapathi confirmed to IANS Friday that Malik, who has been banned by Pakistan Cricket Board for one year, has been barred from entering Gymkhana.
“Yes. We have asked Gymkahana staff not to allow him to practice,” Chalapathi told IANS.
Malik was banned and fined by the Pakistani board for breaching the players’ code of conduct and inciting player unrest during the disastrous Australia tour this year.
His teammates Rana Naved-ul Hasan was banned for a year, while Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were handed life bans.
The HCA ban is in line with the policy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to allow any banned player on official grounds.
The officials pointed out that all International Cricket Council members were bound by the rules on banned players.
Malik practised at Gymkhana ground along with Hyderabad cricketers Tuesday and Wednesday.
He was accompanied by his wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, her father Imran Mirza and former Andhra Cricket Association secretary V. Chamundeswarinath.
“He is not coming to Gymkhana since yesterday (Thursday),” Chalapathi said. He feigned ignorance about the former Pakistan skipper’s presence for two days.
“I am not aware. I heard that he had come there,” the official said.
The HCA move to ban Malik’s entry into Gymkhana came after criticism from various quarters for allowing him to play.
Some local players pointed out that even former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin was not allowed to practice at the grounds after he was banned by BCCI.
Similarly eight Indian Cricket League (ICL) players were also not allowed to practice after they were banned by the national cricketing association.